15 Best Train Board Games to Play in 2025
All aboard! These top train board games bring tracks, tactics, and laughs. Perfect for new players chasing their first big train adventure.
All aboard, train fans! If you love the sound of rolling dice as much as rolling stock, you’re in the right place. We pulled together the 15 best train board games for newbies, families, and hardcore rail barons. We looked for games with smooth rules, great replay value, and a true train theme—so you can build tracks, run companies, or even scheme on the rails. Whether you want a fast game or an epic adventure, this list has something for everyone. So grab your conductor’s hat and let’s help you pick the perfect train game for your crew!
On this list:
15 Ticket to Ride
We keep coming back to Ticket to Ride whenever new players want to try a train board game. It’s a classic because it’s easy to learn and keeps everyone engaged until the final move. The thrill of connecting routes and blocking your friends never gets old—especially when you’re only two spaces away from Vancouver and Aunt Lucy steals your spot. It plays fast, but every decision counts. This game turned our game nights into ticket-fueled battles and made us look up more train board games. If you want simple fun and a friendly rivalry (that may last decades), this is a must-have.
14 Railways of the World
If you want more depth in your train adventures, Railways of the World delivers. Our first play took some brain power and a lot of laughter. The game is about building tracks, shipping goods, and upgrading engines. It feels like running your own railroad empire but with friends helping and hindering you at every turn. The map is massive and the feeling of making that perfect delivery is sweet. It’s a great way to spend an evening, but you may want snacks nearby—this one takes some time. Just know there’s a bit more to learn, but once everyone gets it, the fun doesn’t stop.
13 Russian Railroads
Russian Railroads surprised us with its clever puzzles. It’s all about placing your workers to build tracks and gain points. We found ourselves planning turns ahead and trying to outsmart each other. The game is tight—mistakes matter, and victories are satisfying. There’s no map-building here; the fun comes from racing to max out your rails before your friends do. We laughed when someone forgot to advance their locomotive and watched their plans go off the rails. If you like strategy and high scores, and don’t mind a little brain burn, this is a great pick for train fans.
12 Iberian Gauge
Iberian Gauge is sneaky fun in a small box. We jumped in, bought shares in train companies, and fought over track placement in Spain and Portugal. The rules felt light, but the decisions—oh boy—are heavy. Every time someone invests, they drive your plans in wild directions. We laughed (and groaned) as fortunes changed fast. It’s fast to set up and perfect when you want a thinky train game that won’t bog you down all night. Good for players who want to see their friends’ best poker faces while they think about train stocks.
11 Steam: Rails to Riches
Steam: Rails to Riches is for players who want to feel like real train tycoons. We laid track, upgraded engines, and transported cubes (goods) all over the map. It gets competitive fast—be ready for some sneaky moves. The economy part added lots of laughs as we watched our friends make a fortune… or lose everything. It’s got a big map and huge replay value. Even after hours of play, we kept finding new ways to win (and lose). If you like games with depth and don’t mind a few rules, this train game is a standout.
10 Chicago Express
Chicago Express is all about clever investments and outguessing your friends. The rules aren’t too hard, but man, the decisions are! Every auction feels like a mini showdown. As we laid track across the Midwest, someone always tried to outbid and cut us off. Unlike some other train games, it plays fast—less time waiting, more time plotting. If you want a game that lets you act like a ruthless businessperson without needing a degree in trains, this is a top pick.
9 First Class: All Aboard the Orient Express!
First Class is the classiest train game we’ve played. It mixes train building with a dash of murder mystery. We built fancy rail cars and aimed for combos galore. The gameplay felt smooth, and we loved racing each other for the best cards. It’s got enough strategy for hobby gamers, but still easy for newbies. We argued over the best routes and laughed when someone’s train missed the big points by a single card. If you want a stylish train game, this one travels in first class.
8 Trains
Trains is what happens when train tracks crash into deck-building. We started with weak cards, bought better ones, and laid tracks around Japan. The real fun was blocking our friends’ progress, trash talking, and seeing who could make the best combos. If you enjoy Dominion but wish you could lay some railroads, you’ll be hooked. The game moves quick, but each choice feels juicy. For us, watching someone build an epic rail combo always ends in cheers (and jeers).
7 Age of Steam
Age of Steam is not for the faint of heart. We sweated every round, making tough decisions about loans, track building, and deliveries. The table gets pretty serious, but the payoff is worth it—winning after balancing your budget and routes feels amazing. Our group still talks about the time someone took too many loans and ended up bankrupt. This is one of the hardest train games, but also one of the most rewarding. If you want a deep challenge and friends who love a good brain teaser, add this to your list.
6 Whistle Stop
Whistle Stop starts easy but has sneaky depth. We moved our trains west across America, picking up goods and building routes. The modular board means each game feels fresh. We clashed over the best resources and sometimes took shortcuts that left us lost in the boonies. It’s friendly for new players and great for families, with enough tactics to please gamers. Plus, everyone loves the little wooden trains—until someone steals your perfect route at the last minute!
5 TransAmerica
TransAmerica is our go-to for a quick train hit. The rules are so light you’ll spend more time explaining your weird sandwich recipe than the game. We dropped rails to connect cities and laughed as the game forced us to help—or mess up—each other’s plans. It’s fast, forgiving, and always leaves us wanting a rematch. Perfect for families, or as a warm-up to heavier train games. If you want to teach grandma or the mailman a train game, this is it.
4 Irish Gauge
Irish Gauge is simple to learn but ruthless in play. It’s all about auctions and laying tracks across Ireland. The tension starts early and ratchets up as the board fills. We found ourselves bluffing, bidding, and plotting nonstop. The game moves at a lively clip, so no one has time to check their phone. We love how every decision feels important and you can pull off sneaky wins. If your group likes smart moves and fast laughs, Irish Gauge is a hit.
3 Northern Pacific
Northern Pacific is a tiny box with big fun inside. We were shocked how much yelling a 20 minute train game could cause. The game is simple: pick a city, place your cube, and hope your friends don’t ruin your plans. It’s lightning fast, with zero downtime. The game’s so quick, we always play it twice (or thrice). If you want to introduce a new train game without scaring off beginners, this is a great place to start.
2 1846: The Race for the Midwest
1846 is our favorite entry to the world of heavier train games. It’s long, yes, but it’s packed with moments that make you jump out of your seat. The mix of strategy, stock grabbing, and track building kept us glued to the table (and begging for snacks). We love how each game tells a new story, and screw-ups may still turn into epic comebacks. If you want more meat on your train game and don’t mind a little math, this one rewards repeat plays.
1 Brass: Birmingham
Brass: Birmingham takes the crown as our top pick for train-themed board games. While it’s not just about trains, trains play a huge role in building your industrial empire. We fought over networks, shipped goods, and laughed when our grand plans fell apart because someone built the wrong rail. Every game feels different, and every win feels earned. We keep reaching for Brass because it blends economic strategy and route building in a way that never gets old. Whether you win or lose, you’ll be thinking about your next railroad for days. In our experience, nothing beats the drama and fun this game brings to the table.
